U.S. patent number 6,036,572 [Application Number 09/034,814] was granted by the patent office on 2000-03-14 for drive for toy with suction cup feet.
Invention is credited to Chau-King Sze.
United States Patent |
6,036,572 |
Sze |
March 14, 2000 |
Drive for toy with suction cup feet
Abstract
An electrically-powered device incorporated in a toy comprising
a motor-driven mechanism and a pair of robotic-limbs each with a
resilient sucker to emulate human walking motion on vertical wall
or on ceiling, providing the surface is virtually smooth and
leveled. The motor and gear assembly is housed in the gearbox while
a gear-engaged shaft adjoins a pair of driving wheels, which output
the force to a pair of geneva wheels. The geneva wheels that are
coupled with the limbs rotate in varied velocity as long as the
driving studs of the driving wheel dwells. A lever is disposed in
the limb and is actuated by the driven wheel to lift up the sucker
that is located at the bottom of the limb, whenever the limb is
designated to leave the surface. The pair of driving wheels are
properly orientated while one of the geneva wheels is arranged at
180 degree out of phase to its counterpart to ensure either one of
the limbs clinched firmly onto the surface.
Inventors: |
Sze; Chau-King (Shamshuipo,
Kowloon, HK) |
Family
ID: |
21878778 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/034,814 |
Filed: |
March 4, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/177; 446/330;
446/355 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
3/36 (20130101); A63H 11/18 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
11/00 (20060101); A63H 3/36 (20060101); A63H
11/18 (20060101); A63H 3/00 (20060101); A63H
029/10 (); A63H 003/20 (); A63H 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;446/92,177,330,352,351,354,355,356,288,431,448,485 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
571287 |
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Feb 1933 |
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DE |
|
197810 |
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Oct 1978 |
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DE |
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716949 |
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Oct 1954 |
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GB |
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Other References
Photo-4(Hong Kong Toys, 1995 first quarter issue) showing a phone
cradle manufactured by Weina Manufactory Ltd. .
Photo-5 (playthings, 1989 Mar. Issue, p. 50) showing toy vehicles
manufactured by Nasta Industries Inc. .
"Reactors action vehicles lead Nasta's futuristic lineup of toys"
(Playthings, 1989 Mar. issue, p. 50). .
Photo-1 (Playthings, 1995 first quarter issue) showing suction cups
manufactured by Toy Originator Inc. .
Photo-2 (Hong Kong Toys, 1995 first quarter issue) showing a
suction cup-suspended doll manufactured by Gara Plastic Products
Factory Ltd. .
Photo-3 (Hong Kong Toys, 1995 second quarter issue) showing
basketball game devices manufactured by Cheung Tai Plastic Factory
Ltd. .
Photo-4 (Hong Kong Toys, 1995 first quarter issue) showing a phone
cradle manufactured by Weina Manufactory Ltd. .
Photo-5 (Playthings, Mar. 1989 issue, p. 50) showing toy vehicles
manufactured by Nasta Industries Inc. .
"Reactors action vehicles lead Nasta's futuristic lineup of toys"
(Playthings, Mar. 1989 issue, p. 50)..
|
Primary Examiner: Muir; D Neal
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device employed in motorized toys comprising:
a motor-driven mechanism; and
a pair of mechanical limbs driven and governed by said motor-driven
mechanism,
wherein each mechanical limb comprises a resilient sucker movably
seated at the bottom of the limb, and said motor-driven mechanism
is operative to drive the said mechanical limbs along a defined
path,
wherein said motor-driven mechanism comprises a gearbox, operative
to drive a pair of driving wheels seated on both sides of said
gearbox, said device further comprising a gear-engaging shaft
protruding from the gearbox for coupling said driving wheels, and a
pair of geneva wheels coupled and driven by said driving wheels,
and
wherein each geneva wheel is provided with a plurality of slots in
different transversal curvatures to achieve intermittent maneuver
and variant velocity of revolving.
2. The device employed in motorized toys according to claim 1
wherein each driving wheel comprises a plurality of constituent
driving studs projecting outwardly from a facet of said driving
wheel and dispersed in a polar array with the common center
concentric with the axle of the gear-engaging shaft.
3. The device employed in motorized toys according to claim 1
wherein each driving wheel comprises a concentric pin projecting
from a facet thereof, for purpose of delimiting certain mechanical
movement of a respective one of the limbs.
4. A device employed in motorized toys comprising:
a motor-driven mechanism; and
a pair of mechanical limbs driven and governed by said motor-driven
mechanism,
wherein each mechanical limb comprises a resilient sucker movably
seated at the bottom of the limb, and said motor-driven mechanism
is operative to drive the said mechanical limbs along a defined
path,
wherein said motor-driven mechanism comprises a gearbox, operative
to drive a pair of driving wheels seated on both sides of said
gearbox, said device further comprising a gear-engaging shaft
protruding from the gearbox for coupling said driving wheels,
and
a pair of geneva wheels coupled and driven by said driving wheels,
and
wherein each limb further comprises a toggle linkage, and each
geneva wheel comprises a cam in crescent shape located on a facet
of said geneva wheel, said cam being operative to actuate and
release said toggle linkage, and said cam of each geneva wheel
being operative to elevate a lever linking to a respective one of
said resilient suckers.
5. The device employed in motorized toys according to claim 4
wherein each limb further comprises a sucker-assembly operative to
adjust the rising and receding of said respective resilient sucker,
and said toggle linkage of each limb is operative to shove and
retract a respective one of said sucker-assemblies in respective of
operative position of the crescent-shaped cam of a respective one
of said geneva wheels.
6. The device employed in motorized toys according to claim 5
wherein said sucker-assembly of each limb comprises a sleeve,
cubical shank to be fitted in said sleeve, an actuator and a swivel
base.
7. A device employed in motorized toys comprising:
a motor-driven mechanism; and
a pair of mechanical limbs driven and governed by said motor-driven
mechanism,
wherein each mechanical limb comprises a resilient sucker movably
seated at the bottom of the limb, and said motor-driven mechanism
is operative to drive the said mechanical limbs along a defined
path,
wherein each limb comprises a sucker-lifting lever linked to a
respective one of said resilient suckers, and
wherein said sucker-lifting lever of each limb is formed with a
plurality of lifting tabs on an upper portion thereof and one bent
tab at a lower portion thereof, said bent tab being linked to the
respective resilient sucker.
8. The device employed in motorized toys according to claim 7
wherein each driving wheel comprises at least one rib extending
outwardly from the axle of the driving wheel, said rib being used
to lift a respective one of said sucker-lifting levers.
9. The device employed in motorized toys according to claim 3
wherein an elongated slot is built in each limb to accommodate the
concentric pin of a respective one of the driving wheels.
10. A driving device for a toy comprising:
a pair of feet for moving a toy along a surface, each of said feet
including a hollow limb, a suction cup movably received in said
limb of said each feet for movement along a longitudinal axis
between a receded position where said suction cup is within said
limb and a lowered position where said suction cup projects
outwardly from an lower end of said limb, and a spring for urging
said suction cup toward said receded position;
means for driving said feet along a defined locus to bring said
suction cups alternately into attachment to a surface; and
means for moving and retaining each of said suction cups to and at
said lowered position during cup-attaching movement of a respective
one of said feet and for releasing said each suction cup from said
lowered position upon completion of said attachment.
11. The driving device according to claim 10 wherein said each
suction cup is movably connected to a respective limb through
toggle linkages.
12. The driving device according to claim 11 wherein said driving
means comprises a pair of first rotational wheels operatively
connected respectively to said feet, and said moving means
comprises said toggle linkages, said toggle linkages being
pivotally connected to said respective limb such that said toggle
linkages pivot to move said each suction cup in response to part of
movement of a respective one of said first wheels.
13. The driving device according to claim 12 wherein said driving
means further comprises a motor operatively connected to said fist
wheels, and a pair of second rotational wheels arranged for
operative engagement respectively with said first wheels, and said
feet are pivotally mounted respectively on said second wheels.
14. The driving device according to claim 13 wherein each of said
first wheels comprises a plurality of engaging studs projecting
outwardly therefrom and arranged in a polar array with a common
center concentric with a rotational axis of said each first wheel,
and each of said second wheels has plurality of slots for operative
engagement with said studs, said slots of said each second wheel
having different transversal curvatures to achieve intermittent
maneuver and variant revolving velocity of said each second
wheel.
15. The driving device according to claim 13 wherein each of said
second wheels comprises a cam located thereon for operative
engagement with said toggle linkages of a respective moving means
so that when engaged by said cam, said toggle linkages move and
retain a respective suction cup to and at said lowered
position.
16. A driving device for a toy comprising:
a pair of feet for moving a toy along a surface, each of said feet
including a hollow limb, and a suction cup movably received in said
limb for movement along a longitudinal axis between a receded
position where said suction cup is within said limb and a lowered
position where said suction cup projects outwardly from an lower
end of said limb;
means for driving said feet along a defined locus to bring said
feet alternately into contact with a surface; and
means for manually selecting either one of said receded and lowered
positions for each suction cup so that said each suction cup is
locked in said one position during operation of said device.
17. The driving device according to claim 16 wherein said selecting
means comprises a manually operable swivel member received in a
respective limb for swiveling movement about said longitudinal
axis, a connecting member secured to a respective suction cup and
movably connected to said swivel member for linear movement along
said longitudinal axis, and means for converting said swiveling
movement of said swivel member into said linear movement of said
connecting member.
18. The driving device according to claim 17 wherein said
converting means comprises at least one pin on said connecting
means and at least one S-shaped slot in said swivel member, said
pin being received in said slot such that said pin is guided by
said slot upon said swiveling movement of said swivel member to
bring said respective suction cup into a selected one of said
positions.
19. A driving device for a toy comprising;
a pair of feet for moving a toy along a surface, each of said feet
including a limb, a suction cup connected to a lower end of each
said limb;
means for driving said feet along a defined locus to bring each
said suction cup alternately into attachment to a surface and to
subsequently move each said suction cup alternately away from said
surface for detachment of said suction cup from said surface;
means for lifting a brim of each of said suction cups in advance of
cup-attaching movement of a respective one of said feet;
wherein said lifting means is further adapted to lift said brim of
each said suction cup in advance of cup-detaching movement of each
said respective foot;
said driving means comprises a motor, and a pair of first
rotational wheels each operatively connected to said motor and to
said feet; and
said lifting means comprises at least one rib formed on a
respective one of said first wheels so that said brim of said each
suction cup is lifted in response to part of a rotational movement
of said respective first wheel.
20. The device according to claim 19 wherein said rib of said
respective first wheel extends outwardly from an axle of said
respective first wheel.
21. The device according to claim 19 wherein said lifting means
comprises a lifting lever linked to a respective one of said
suction cups, said lifting lever being movably connected to a
respective one of said limbs for movement between a lower position
and an upper position where said lifting lever lifts said brim of
said respective suction cup, and said rib of said respective first
wheel is located for operative engagement with respective one of
said lifting levers so that when engaged by said rib, said
respective lifting lever is moved to said upper position.
22. The device according to claim 19 wherein said driving means
further comprises a pair of second rotational wheels arranged for
operative engagement respectively with said first wheels, said feet
are pivotally mounted respectively on said second wheels, and said
lifting means further comprises a cam formed on a respective one of
said second wheels so that said brim is lifted in response to part
of rotational movement of said respective second wheel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to all mechanical device incorporated in
toys, and more particularly to those motorized robot-related
toys.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional motorized toy, for various reasons, has been limited
to be solely played on ground or on horizontal plane on account of
the gravity. Pleasure of playing has been highly impeded due to
this limitation unless the hindrance is resolved. This problem is
met by several other toy inventions, i.e., toy glider launched by a
catapult, scaled-model of helicopter/propeller plane powered by
diesel engine. Nevertheless, control of the above-mentioned items
requires skill which is not of children's faculty and it is not
environmentally acceptable to be played inside a house.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks resolution to overcome the inherent
dilemma of the force required to press a resilient sucker, which
withstands the force exerted to it by the weight of the toy,
nonetheless ease of releasing of sucker should be called for
whenever desired.
The present invention exploits a resilient sucker located at the
bottom of each limb, to momentary hold the body of the toy onto a
vertical plane in an alternative order. Prior to operation, one of
the limbs must be manually stuck onto the plane. After power is
switched on, the alternative limb takes turn to advance in pace and
hold the toy firmly before the sucker of the first limb is lifted
and released. A repetition of the stroke is operated hence
advancing the toy in steps. In accordance with the present
invention, a phenomenon is observed that less effort is exercised
and made realized when the sucker is slightly lifted at the brim
before full force is exerted during pressing and releasing. It is
implemented by lifting a constituent tab built at the brim of the
sucker, which is linked to a lever disposed in the limb whenever
the action is entailed.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a toy consists of a DC
motor, a worm fit to the shaft of the motor, a worm gear and a set
of spur gear assembly are encased in the gearbox. The gearbox is
contrived of two-half shell made of molded plastic material, and a
gear-engaged shaft is seated with both ends protruding out of the
gearbox to fit with a pair of driving wheels outside the gearbox.
Six driven studs, located on the facet of the driving wheel, are
dispersed in radial array with their mutual center concentric with
the axle of the gear-engaged shaft. Two constituent ribs, projected
from the facet and extended outwardly from the center of the
driving wheel, are to lift the lever imposed in the limb at
appropriate intervals while an integrated pin administrates the
travel of the limb.
Additionally in accordance with the invention, a pair of geneva
wheels, each of which comes with a cam in crescent shape and a boss
projecting from the surface of the geneva wheel, are affixed to the
gearbox and positioned at 180 degree out of phase with each other
identified by the position of the boss. The geneva wheels are
indexed by the driving studs and revolve in varied speed in respect
to the path traveled by the driving studs.
Further in accordance with the invention, each of the limbs is
pivoted at the boss of the respective geneva wheel and traverse in
a defined locus. The limb comes with a slot along which the
delimiting pin of the driving wheel resides. A toggle linkage, a
swivel base that adjusts the vertical displacement of the sucker, a
spring-action actuator linked to the toggle linkage, a sleeve
seated resilient sucker and a metal lever linked to the sucker are
assembled and constitute a fully mechanized limb.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This invention will be further described with reference to the
following drawings, in which the outer casing of the toy, location
of the battery, location of the on/off switch and all wire
connection are not shown as they are considered irrelevant to the
present invention.
FIG. 1 shows a partly exploded assembly drawing of the toy
constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show front view, side view and a partially
sectional top view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 2D shows the gear assembly inside the gearbox of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3A is an isometric view showing sucker-lifting lever and its
mutual relationship with the limb.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are exploded view of the sucker assembly.
FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of FIGS. 4A and 4B.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are isometric view showing different vertical
displacement of the resilient sucker seated in the sleeve in
respect to the axial disposition of the swivel base.
FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C are simplified pictorial illustration showing
different displacement of the sucker assembly in regard to the
status of the toggle linkage.
FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D are simplified pictorial illustration
showing status of the geneva wheel in accordance with different
radial position of the driving wheel.
FIGS. 9A, 10A, 11A, 12A, 13A, 14A and 15A are illustrations showing
different postures of the toy in sequential order in accordance
with the different radial position of the driving wheel.
FIGS. 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C . . . 15B and 15C illustrates key elements
(highlighted in bold line) involved in the mechanical movement of
FIGS. 9A, 10A . . . 15A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A-3A, which illustrates a toy
constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, and comprising a gearbox 1 which is
formed of two complimentary half shell 2, 3, and a pair of
mechanical limbs 4, 5. In accordance with the present invention,
full set of gear assembly including a worm 6 permanently fit onto
the shaft of a DC motor 7, four differential gear 8, 9, 10, 11 are
installed inside the gearbox. An output-shaft 12 with knurling 13
at both ends, protruding from the gearbox, is mated with a pair of
driving wheels 14 and 15. The driving wheels are seated in the
recess of the gearbox 1 in proper orientation with each other and
rotate in direction 1 upon power switching on. Six driving studs
16, 17, 18, 19, 69, 70 (best shown in FIGS. 8A-8D) built on the
facet of each of the driving wheels 14, 15 in polar array, project
perpendicular to the plane of the driving wheels 14, 15. A pair of
ribs 20, 21 are also built and extend outwardly from the center of
the driving wheels 14, 15. A constituent pin 22 extends further and
perpendicular to the plane of the driving wheels 14, 15, is to
engaged with an elongated slot of the limbs 4, 5 and such
arrangement governs the traveling path of the limbs 4, 5.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the geneva wheels 23, 24 are movably mounted onto the
boss 28 on each of the gearbox's shells 2 and 3 respectively. Said
geneva wheels are indexed by the driving pin 16, 17, 18, 19, 69, 70
of the driving wheels 14, 15 and rotates in direction 2 in varied
speed. The orientation of the geneva wheel is defined by the
position of the boss 25 or 26 and is arranged at 180 degree out of
phase with its counterpart. A crescent-formed cam 27 is built and
located at outermost perimeter on the facet of the geneva
wheel.
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the limbs 4, 5 are
movably mounted on the bosses 25, 26 of the respective geneva
wheels, while an elongated slot 64 defines a longitudinal axis 36
(FIG. 2A) along which the delimiting pin 22 of the driving wheel
resides. Also in accordance with the embodiment of the invention, a
set of toggle linkages 29, 30, a sucker assemblies 37 and two
sucker-lifting levers 32, 33 are disposed in the limb and encased
by the limb-covers 31, 35.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the sucker-lifting levers 32, 33 are,
preferably, made of metal and a tab 34 is formed at lower portion
to adopt a hook-ended rod 62 which links to a lifting tab 51 built
at the brim of a resilient sucker 50. A stepped groove 55 is built
in the limb to accommodate the sucker-lifting levers 32, 33, which
are freely to move within the limit set by two shoulders 53 and
54.
Reference is now particularly made to FIGS. 4A-6B, which described
the maneuver of the sucker assembly 37. In accordance with the
present invention, each sucker assemblies 37 are permitted to
travel inside the limbs 4, 5 along a longitudinal axis 65 however
governed by the status of toggle linkages 29, 30. The sucker
assembly 37 comprising an actuator 38, and associate with which a
toggle linkage 30 is mounted onto a shaft 39 and thus pivoted,
while the other element 29 of the linkage is pivoted and fit to a
boss 66 (shown in FIG. 3A) built in the limbs 4, 5, a compression
spring 40 is fit to a pin 52 of the actuator 38, with the spring's
other end seated against a rib 41 (shown in FIG. 1) built on the
limbs 4, 5. The actuator 38 is snapped and engaged with a swivel
base 42 from which a pair of bosses 43 extend outwardly for ease of
maneuver. The swivel base 42 comes with two "S" shape slots 44
positioned at opposite side, and along which a pair of pins 46 of a
slant-bottom sleeve 45 is engaged and travels. The swivel base 42
is allowed to swivel about the axis 65, and more explicitly in the
direction 3, 4 in FIG. 6A, within the limit set by the opening 47
(shown in FIG. 1) built on the limbs 4, 5. A resilient sucker 50,
which is preferably made of elastomeric plastic, comes with a
cubical shank 48 and a snag 49, are fastened firmly in place with
the sleeve 45 therein. The sleeve 45 with the sucker 50 is allowed
to retract or extend along the longitudinal axis 65 in respect to
the axial disposition of the swivel base 42. The retraction of the
sucker assembly is only called for when sucking force is not
mandatory when the toy is to be played on horizontal plane.
FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C illustrates three different status of the toggle
linkages 29, 30 which control the rising and receding of the sucker
assembly 37. When the toggle linkages 29, 30 are actuated by the
crescent cam 27 in the direction represent by arrow 5, until it
passes the critical inertial point (therein when all pivot of the
toggle linkages 29, 30 lie on the same axis 56 as shown in FIG.
7B), the sucker assembly 37 is forced to thrust outward in
direction 6 and is locked in place before its adherent limb land
the surface. While the cam 27 advances onwards, toggle linkage 30
is released in direction 7. The compression spring seated against
the rib 41 will instantly thrust the limb against the surface
firmly in direction 8; this procedure establish a taut interaction
between the surface and the limb to ensure the stroke of
alternative limb will be carried out accurately and smoothly.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, which describes how
the geneva wheels 23, 24 response, respectively, to the driving
wheels 14, 15 in various axial position. A small triangle denotes
the axial position of the driving wheel, while two arrows 1, 2
describe the direction of revolving. Four linear grooves 57, 58,
59, 60 plus two curved grooves 67, 68 (shown in FIGS. 8A-8D) are
built in defined pattern on the inner facet of the geneva wheels
23, 24. When the driving stud 18 is admitted in groove 68 and
starts driving the geneva wheel before it reaches a point reflected
in FIG. 8B, the geneva wheel remains stationary since the forefront
of the curvature of the groove 68 copies the loci of the driving
studs 16, 17, 18, 19, 69, 70. It is within this period that ample
time is provided for the sucker-lifting levers 32, 33 been
activated by the ribs 20, 21 to release the sucker 50. While the
driving wheels 14, 15 revolve onwards, the geneva wheels 23, 24
start off and revolving in varied speed until groove 68 is indexed
by any driving stud in next cycle.
FIGS. 9A, 10A, 11A, 12A . . . 15A are self-explained and it
illustrates different posture of the toy in sequential order. A
shaded area 63 represents a vertical wall or a ceiling-floor on
which the toy settled. A small triangle indicates the axial
position of the driving wheels 14, 15 and an arrow 10 indicates
direction of movement of the toy.
FIGS. 9B, 9C, 10B, 10C . . . 15B, 15C described key components in
details in respect to the postures revealed in FIGS. 9A . . . 15A.
In FIG. 9B, the limb 5 of the toy in accordance with the present
invention is stuck manually onto a vertical plane when power is
off. After the power is switched on, the limb 4 that hovers in the
air starts to attack the plane 63. At this point the crescent cam
27 actuates the toggle-linkages 29, 30 to shove the sucker assembly
37 (FIG. 9C). In FIG. 10C, toggle linkage locks the sucker assembly
37 in place and at the same moment sucker-lifting levers 32, 33 are
lifted slightly by the crescent cam 27 in direction 11 to yield a
potency of settling the limb on the surface. When the crescent cam
27 leaves the edge of the tab 60 of the lifting lever (FIGS. 11C
and 12C), the lever 33 is released, and as a consequence, the brim
of the sucker 50 is lowered and a firm clinching of limb 4 is
secured. At this very moment, the crescent cam 27 tends to push and
release the toggle linkages 29, 30 therein the spring 40 force the
limb 4 to press against the surface 63 (FIG. 13C). At the same
time, the rib 20 (or 21) advances and poses underneath the tab 61
of the sucker-lifting lever 32 disposed in limb 5 and starts to
lift up the lever (FIG. 12B). Before successfully releasing the
sucker 50, the limb 5 and the geneva wheel 23 remains motionless
(FIG. 13B) until the driving wheel 14 reaches a point reflected by
FIG. 8B, from thereon the limb 5 starts to lift off and leave the
limb 4 firmly attached onto the plane 63 (FIGS. 14B, 14C, 15B,
15C).
The present invention has been disclosed in preferred forms and the
drawing figures are for illustrative purposes only. It is therefore
intended to cover modifications and variations of the mechanical
structure, which yield equivalent or similar results, within the
spirit and scope of the invention defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *